Jillaroos, Kiwi Ferns tip other nations to catch up

Senior women's rugby league figures predict the international game will become more hotly contested in coming years as female players begin choosing to represent their Pacific roots rather than tier-one nations.

Finalists for this year's Pacific Cup, Australia and New Zealand have dominated the international sphere since their first Test match against one another in 1995.

The two powerhouses have met in each of the last four women's World Cup finals and neither has ever lost to a two-tier Pacific nation like Samoa, Tonga or Papua New Guinea.

But ahead of Sunday's final at CommBank Stadium, both the Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns have forecast an end to their duopoly in the international game, especially given recent results for men's tier-two nations.

In recent years, Jason Taumalolo, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o and Addin Fonua-Blake have been among male players to chose their Pacific roots over representing Australia or New Zealand, with those decisions now paying dividends.

Tonga upset New Zealand to make it to Sunday's men's Pacific Cup final, while Samoa shocked England to qualify for the decider of the 2022 World Cup in a first for tier-two Pacific nations.

Women's players are already following suit; former Jillaroos representative Evania Pelite has played for Samoa these Pacific Championships, joined by ex-Kiwi Fern Jasmine Fogavini.

Elsewhere, Vanessa Foliaki captained Tonga in their own Pacific Bowl games after previously playing for Australia.

On the teams for Sunday's final, Australia's Simaima Taufa (Tonga), Tiana Penitani (Tonga), Sarah Togatuki (Samoa) and Kiwi Ferns centre Mele Hufanga (Tonga) are among those eligible to represent other nations.

Jillaroos coach Brad Donald predicted more future players could change allegiances in coming years, and welcomed the shift.

"I think the game is only just starting to snowball," he said.

"There's always a home for the girls who are born here in Australia or have grown up here in Australia (but) I think as the game evolves, we're going to see many more players wanting to represent their Samoan and Tongan heritage.

"I think that's going to be the way that it goes and I think it's great."

Kiwi Ferns captain Georgia Hale said the men's game had provided a possible glimpse into the future of women's international football.

"Just seeing Tonga and Samoa competing against New Zealand, Australia or England, it's widening that top tier kind of group," she told AAP.

"I think that's happening equally in the women's game which is exciting. It only makes us better, for us to all be tested at this level."

The growth of the Pacific game helped motivate former Tongan international Penitani to hop back to Australia this series, confident in the other talent Tonga had attracted.

"The likes of Tegan Dymock and my sister Tash and Ness Foliaki really leading the charge, there were some great young girls that have kind of moved up and taken over for Tonga," she told AAP.

"Hopefully it'll just be a roll-on effect and girls won't feel the pressure to have to choose between (countries) and will just kind of follow where their heart takes them."